Friday, April 25, 2008

Prepare For Food Crisis!

April 24, 2008Members & Friends of the League of the South:

As you no doubt have heard by now, there is a global food crisis. This has been fueled (no pun intended) by rising commodity prices--oil, wheat, rice, and poultry and dairy product, among many others. Moreover, I suspect that central governments, central banks, and global corporations have a hand in the emerging crisis as well.

For whatever reasons it has come about, the global food crisis (coupled with the global energy crisis) WILL have a big impact on your life. And this will probably be sooner rather than later.

From the beginning, the League has promoted agrarianism and all its manifestations. We believe that both the Nashville Agraraians and the English Distributists were right. But even before these groups, Thomas Jefferson was on to the same thing. A republic is secured by the small freeholder. Today, this does not mean that we all have to become farmers; rather, it means a freeholder is anyone (farmers, small businessmen, etc.) who has the ability and inclination to free himself (and his family and community) from a debilitating system of dependence. He holds himself and his property as distant as possible from the encumbrances of the system, as far as it is possible to do so. Be freeholders.

As we face these developing crises (and don't forget the overaching subprime financial crisis), what can we do to help protect ourselves? For most of us, moving "back to the land" is not a practical and immediate solution. But if it is for you, I suggest you do it at once. For everyone else: plant a garden, fruit trees, bushes, and vines; arrange with a local farmer (perhaps a fellow LS member?) to get your dairy products, eggs, meat, honey, and anything else they produce in some quantity. Also, as a short-term solution (3-6 months) stock your pantry with non-perishable items such as rice, pasta, flour, cornmeal, grits, canned vegetablels, fruits, oils, and meats. Learn about food preservation (and I don't mean simply putting things in the freezer) so you can put up fresh produce this summer. Don't forget bottled water. For a longer-term solution, get a first-rate water filter and some way to capture rainwater (if you don't have a year-round stream, creek, lake, or pond nearby). A reliable well, of course, would be best.

Don't neglect means of cooking and keeping warm (the crisis maybe going full speed ahead by this coming fall and winter). At least have a camp stove and fuel or a grill and a good supply of charcoal. A good supply of firewood and a fireplace or wood cookstove is a longer term solution. As for keeping cool in the South in the summer without air conditioning--good luck! That's why God gave us creeks, shade trees, funeral parlor fans, and afternoon thunderstorms in July and August.

As one Southerner to another, I don't have to explain to you the necessity of protecting what you have from intruders. If this becomes a full-blown crisis, many unprepared people (read "the most of them") will freak out and possibly become dangerous. We know there is already a criminal element in society that needs but a feeble excuse to plunder and pillage. In other words, exercise your Second Amendment rights to the fullest.

Be sure to have some gold and silver, in various units, in your physical possession.

In times like these, we need real community more than ever. That is what the League is all about, fundamentally. But the most important thing you can do is get on your knees everyday and pray for God's mercy on His people. Then get up and be a leader in your family and community. Who knows, on the other side of this crisis there may exist the opportunity we've been seeking.